Bagworms invasion...(entomology world)

• I was away to Jakarta for 2 days this week on a personal matter. Then, attending a 1 day ' Workshop on Advances in Ganoderma Research on Oil Palm' jointly organized by Faculty of Agriculture and Institute of Tropical Agriculture, UPM.

• I was very delighted to meet all scientists who are currently doing a research on Ganoderma. We shared, discussed and talked about our research. One thing that I like, thus we are from different companies (to name some, Felda, IOI, MPOB, Sime Darby, United Plantation, Aseatic and many others), the community was very warm and cozy. They’re all very professional and excellent in their works (Of course some do and don’t..haha) and I have admired them a lot. I am looking forward to meeting them again.


• 
  Then, I went to Serting Hilir to see my plot trial with my boss and built up some important points to the manager in charge. For this entry I just want to share about the bagworms attack facing by them.
  
  There are 3 species of bagworms that can give oil palm plantation a lot of damage.
  These 3 species are:-
  
  Metisa plana
  Setora nitens
  Mahasena corbetti
  
  However, attack by M.plana is more perilous compared to the other two species. It can give you a significance impact towards the plantation. You can easily recognize between the species by differentiate their cocoon. They also have a different life cycle which is very crucial in order to combat their attack. M. corbetti has 141 days of life cycle (95 days as a larva).


• 
  
  Solution
  
  By using cypermethrin through trunk injection or power spray depend on the size (age) of the palms. The palm census has needed to be done first in order to choose for the right time to apply the cypermethrin. This is very important as we need to know their feeding time before the back into the cocoon. Once they ate the leaves injected by cypermethrin (at the trunk or by power spray as explained earlier) then, they’ll die.
  

(Attack by M. plana)

(M. corbetti in Serting Hilir)

More Pictures..

My fungi photograph

Well, I love taking photo of fungi. Thus, I would like to share with the community. Perhaps it can be better if I can identified the names of those fungi, unfortunately I am not that expert yet. Maybe soon...For now, I'll write some of them first..
Tiger beetle on top of Ganoderma boninense










Schizophyllum commune

Pithaya disease in Malaysia

Currently, I've been exchanged email with Dr. Eric Boa (plant pathologist from CABI) regarding this disease. They face the same disease incidence in Nicaragua. More to come...

Pithaya disease in Malaysia
Saturday, June 14, 2008 7:48 AM
From: "Eric Boa" e.boa@cabi.org
Add sender to Contacts
To: mohd_hefni81@yahoo.com
Cc: "PlantClinic"

Hefni -

Send me some photographs. We'd be happy to look at a sample if you wanted to send it to the UK. Please contact the GPC before you send material so we can advise on procedures.

I'm not entirely convinced that the symptoms I saw are a bacterial disease and I'm not sure if inoculation trials were done in Nicaragua.

Apologies for taking so long to reply - I didn't see your comment until today.

Kind regards

Eric

Unidentified disease??

• When I visited Sabah last year, I found something which is very unusual / rare to me. I don't know whether to call it a disease infection or it is caused by something else. Some said it is caused by the strong wind but my sense doubt about that reason.

(Picture A)

Picture B

• From the picture, we can compare shoots of the palms have collapsed from different reasons. Picture A showed that there was no twisted shoots involved where the shoots was collapsed. This palm was surrounded by neighbouring palm which did not copy the same situation. Therefore, it was not significant to justify that's the shoots collapsed because of a strong wind.

• In another hand, Picture B showed twisted shoots caused by a strong wind and furthermore, this palm located near the field road. Therefore, the parameter of a shoots collapsed by a strong wind was obvious in this picture.

• I've asked the agronomist about this problem and they said it may happen because of the over pruning. I don't know about that but I am not 100% agree with that reason. I have climbed the palm (yes!) to check any high moisture level present at the basal of the shoots (for bacterial infection) but unfortunately I cant hardly detected anything. At that time, I wanted to cut down the collapsed shoots in order to get more details however time was restricted.

• The plantation manager has said to me that it was a rare problem but it's keep on increasing. Therefore, I can said that it's going to be more threatening in the future if we can't find the source of this problem. By the way, recently, I also found this problem in peninsular Malaysia.

Kenaikan gaji pegawai GLC

I'm just want to touch a bit on this subject.

Khazanah nasional melalui Pengarah Urusannya, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar mempertahankan kenaikan gaji 100% terhadap para pegawai TNB.

So, what did they do till they deserved to be promoted salary sampai 100%. For me, in order to get a 100% increase, you must do a hell of excellent works. Unfortunately, with my little knowledge, I have seen nothing. I suppose they have created some novel works in order to earn that salary. I keep on thinking and wondering because so far I didn't see any. Well of course even though I did not know much about TNB, I may know a little.

What was the step or initiative that they have taken to ease the people's burden? As far as I am concerned, when the fuel price increased the electricity tariff also increased!! If they say they have contributed many profits for the government through GLC links, last I noticed they were loss in terms of revenue. So what was this Che Khalid doing? By achieving the KPI, one cannot say that he is excellent. Did he put the innovation that he has contributed?

--nothing--

When, top management of the government reducing their allowance for 10%, how dare you increase the salary on no-achieving company!

Soil mounding research to combat fungal pathogen Ganoderma

My research has been divided into several experiments which are currently on going in different Ganoderma infected areas in Peninsular Malaysia. One of the research is experiment on the soil mounding treatment. There has been some reports on the use of soil mounding treatment + with fungicides or biological control agents.

Lim et al., (1993) and Hassan and Turner (1994) showed that surgery followed by soil mounding around the base of mature diseased palms could bring about an increase in vigour and yield of oil palms. The treatment seems to be promising for prolonging the economic life of Ganoderma-infected oil palms by promoting root growth for nutrient absorption. Further studies by Tuck and Khairuddin (1997) indicated that soil mounding with fumigant and soil mounding alone were seem to be able to prolong productivity of oil palms through the physical benefit of preventing the weakened boles from being toppled by wind. However, this treatment did not prove to be curative.

Therefore, the objective of this treatment is to prolong the productive life of Ganoderma infected palm. For me, this is one of the aspect that need to be explore cause I believe a combination of mixed solution betweeen the use of biological control, fungicide, cultural practises, tolerance progeny and Good Agricultural Practises (GAP) need to be implemented in order to solve Ganoderma problem.

Tali putri grass

Cucusta sp. also know as Tali Putri in Malaysia or Dodder through out the world. After a long search for this species, I have found it in one of the oil palm plantation. Cucusta can be a biological control agents towards weeds. Cucusta is plant parasite. It has been known in controlling weed such as Mikania.

The flowers are numerous, white, pink or yellowish, small (2 to 4 mm long depending on species), and can be borne in tight balls or in a loose cluster (again depending on species). Flowers normally appear from early June to the end of the growing season. The fruit is about 1/8 th inch in diameter, with thin papery walls and contain 1 to 4 seeds. The seeds are yellow to brown or black, nearly round and have a fine rough surface with one round and two flat sides.

However, there were reports saying that dodder has been shown to spread the yellows disease pear decline, aster yellows, tomato big bud, vinca virescence and elm phloem necrosis. In addition, phloem-inhabiting `rickettsialike' bacteria have been found to be present in dodder (Mount and Lacy).

Therefore, by allowing dodder to spread in a field or garden area is asking for an increase in the plant diseases this parasite is capable of spreading. Nevertheless, it is worth to take a shot and let the taliputri grow so we can make a study.

To date and my best knowledge, there is a no study yet conducted for this Cucusta. Wheater this plant could cause plant disease in oil palm plantation has yet to be known. The environment and the crop is different from America. So we shall see how from now on....

Control : You can use 2,4-D type herbicide or contact herbicide .

My boss with plantation manager

Scientist blogger

Today, I found out that many of Dr. Scientist out there have their own blog. As a scientist myself, I am very happy to browse through their blogs. But of course, many of these scientist bloggers are women. haha..Nevermine then..

Nevertheless, I am amused with their energy and colorful life as a scientist. It’s lovely to know their research + some lab politic + crazily have to find funding to do a research + paper works + reports + students. These things are part of our life as a scientist. We’ve been through it everyday. However, for those who are a real scientist, I bet they all love this way of life. We are very eager to earn our fruits of findings. It gives us satisfaction! Thus, being a scientist meaning that we are facing challenges each and everyday.

I have been a scientist for a quite sometime. My research needs me to travel around the country. I have many projects that need my attention so closely. Sometimes, my works need me to travel across 3-4 states a day. Even so, I am not tired of it but I love my job so much and wouldn’t sacrifice it for any other job. I love doing research and it has become my passion as a plant pathologist. I am thrilled when I met other senior plant pathologist in the world cause they have contributed so much in the plant sciences world. I wish to become like them. Carry out a research without hesitation and always determine for a new findings. I would love to win a nobel prize. I want to win it for Malaysia. As a scientist, I would love to achieve the top and that’s the principal of my life. That’s principal has guided me through life until today.

I wish to become an expertise in my field and I hope I can be an excellent scientist in Malaysia and of course in the world.

EURO 2008 Kick Off!

Euro 2008 has officially started. Chech Republic has won the opening match against The Swiss (1-0) and Portugal has won against Turkey (2-0).

Of course my fave team would be Italy. Hope they can get double as Germany and France did it for won both word cup and euro cup.

If you take a look at the football supporters then you will know how powerful this sport can be. The waves of football supporters have fulfill every inches of the stadium. The colourful of the game, attraction of the superstar players, the skill and enthusiasm, prodigies and team managements have become an assets for this sport to be regarded as the most popular sport in the world.

Superstar players can easily earn more than GBP hundred thousand a week..Once I read in 1 magazine, a reserved player from Manchester City team gave his junior player a Mercedes (even pay for 2 years road tax) just because he wanted to thanks that boy for cleaning his football shoes!!

Barcelona soccerstar Ronaldinho turn up to the top of the list with $29.5 million earning. David Beckham earns US$ 6.5 million yearly salary and yet he receives a lot as a brand ambassador.

Neverthess, they are excellent in their job and as a result they earn a lot.

DS Abdullah Ahmad Badawi patut berundur!

Kenaikan harga minyak yang diumumkan oleh kerajaan baru-baru ini seharusnya merupakan buah tangan terakhir daripada perdana menteri (Pak Lah). Seharusnya Pak lah tidak perlu menunggu sehingga pemilihan pucuk pimpinan UMNO akan datang. Medan peperangan Pak Lah dalam politik Malaysia sudah berakhir dengan kesudahan keputusan pilihanraya umum ke-12 pada bulan Mac yang lepas.

Kepimpinan Pak Lah sudah tidak diyakini lagi. Kebanyakkan rakyat sudah menolak walaupon terdapat mekanisme - mekanisme baru yang dicadangkan oleh pihak kerajaan dalam menangani masalah kenaikan harga minyak dan makanan. Merujuk kepada mekanisme melalui pemberian wang tunai kepada tuan empunya kenderaan di bawah 2000 cc. Ianya hanya mengurangkan sedikit beban tetapi masih belum efektif bagi melakarkan kejayaan seperti mana kejayaan semasa kerajaan terdahulu menangani kesan kemerosotan ekonomi pada tahun 1999.

Tidak dinafikan bahawa kerajaan juga menangung beban subsidi yang amat besar akibat kenaikan sebanyak 400% bahan api dalam masa 2-3 tahun ini. Namun begitu, kenaikan ini juga sedikit sebanyak dapat ditampung dengan kenaikan harga minyak sawit dan malahan petronas juga mendapat tempias yang besar (walaupon terpaksa menanggung kos yang tinggi dalam operasi cari gali).

Sekarang minyak dah naik, makanan dah naik, kos pengangkutan akan menyusul naik, inflasi dijangkakan sebanyak 5% pada tahun ini sejajar dengan kenaikan minyak. Kuasa belian oleh rakyat akan menyusut melebihi 40%. Keuntungan perniagaan mungkin akan menyusut akibat kekangan keewangan oleh rakyat.

Jadi dimanakah kerajaan boleh meringankan beban rakyat?

1. Pengukuhan nilai ringgit melalui aktiviti penambatan RM pada satu harga tetap dan bukannya melalui konsep pengampungan


2. Menerusi penghapusan tol. Tol juga membebankan pihak rakyat. Mungkin daripada hasil subsidi yang ditolak tersebut boleh digunakan sebagai pampasan untuk membayar kepada pihak yang bertanggungjawab terhadap kutipan tol (PLUS, MTD PRIME etc)


3. Peningkatan penggunaan hasil bioteknologi dalam industri pertanian. Jabatan pertanian haruslah memainkan peranan lebih aktif dalam membantu pengusaha pertanian meningkatkan hasil produktiviti mereka. Contohnya dalam skim subsidi Peladang, terdapat baja kompos yang diberi namun langsung tidak berkesan dalam membantu pertumbuhan pokok padi. Kerugian daripada segi duit rakyat dan daripada segi teknologi telah berlaku di situ.


4. Penjimatan daripada segi perbelanjaan kerajaan. Perkara ini perlu dititik beratkan kerana banyak pembaziran daripada segi pembelian, elektrik, pengurusan keewangan yang tidak cekap, penganjuran majlis yang tidak berfaedah yang mendatangkan kerugian berjuta-juta ringgit.


5. Kajian harus dilakukan tentang konsep bagaimana negara - negara di eropah hanya beroperasi sampai waktu-waktu tertentu sahaja. Dengan melimitkan masa perniagaan maka banyak aktiviti yang membazir boleh dielakkan (esp. kedai 24 jam)


6. Penambahan barangan kawalan juga boleh membantu


7. Kenaikan gaji melalui skim pelarasan yang konsisten dengan keadaan keewangan semasa kerajaan

Menurut hasil analisis dan pemahaman saya, keputusan kenaikan harga minyak yang di buat oleh Pak Lah adalah amat perlu. Namun begitu keputusan tersebut adalah begitu keras dan tidak popular daripada segi politik. Justeru itu, Pak Lah haruslah membayar harga keputusan itu dengan meletak jawatan. Keputusan beliau adalah keputusan masa hadapan tetapi berdasarkan iklim politik sekarang, sebarang penjelasan tidak lagi dapat diterima oleh rakyat yang nyatanya telah memandang rendah kredibiliti perdana menteri dan menteri - menteri kabinet yang lain berdasarkan hasil keputusan pilihanraya ke-12 yang lalu. Pak Lah terpaksa harus berjalan keluar tetapi satu hari nanti rakyat akan memahami keperluan kenaikan terbabit. Sayonara Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Reput Pangkal Arang (Charcoal Base Rot)

Charcoal base rot is caused by fungal pathogen Ustulina deusta. The occurance of this species is very and has little impact in terms of economic for oil palm industry in Malaysia.

This disease infected young palm (below 4 years) and mostly infect rubber tree, coconut and even tea.

As you can see in the picture, the foliar of infected palm became so dried!! Extra dried! Thats one of the symptom! Then you can see the black hole so called like charcoal at the basal of its trunk..Thats the main symptom..Thats why they call it Charcoal base Rot..Alike isnt it?

Then, the roots of the infected palm also become dry then usual..So simple to recognise this disease guys! Got Charcoal hole, dry foliar and roots and thats the one...

Here come the secondary infection!Because there is a hole then here come the termites army which can make a hefty problem to your neighbouring palm..Watch out!

Opss!! You got pest larva too inside there! Could be a perfect breeding habitat for Rhinoceros beetle..

Control: Get rid of the infected palm..

My pathology team..

All the great works are belong to them..They are the soul of the research..Without team members..Nothing can be done..You need to have them..Best wishes..

Another hardworking works..they'll be more guys!! hahah..KPI KPI!!

Hacker demonstrated in PM official website

I was told that Prime Minister Official Website has been hacked ..So I checked (below is actually a skull pic with swords through his mouth) and I've got some conclusion

num one - This hacker is obviously chicken maniac

num two - This hacker is obviously one kick ass hacker

num three - Who is that bloody stupig who take care thatwebsite!

1337 vS RM2.70

RM 2.70 = Second Tsunami

Goverment & Fuck KFC (bunuh banyak ayam)

PAK LAH PENCEN JE LAH !!!

.-" "-. / \ , .-. .-. , )(_o/ \o_)( / /\ \ (@_ (_ ^^ _) ) \_______\__IIIIII__/_______________________ (_)@8@8{}<________-\iiiiii/-________________________> )_/ \ / (@ `--------`



-PENGGODAM MISKIN-from hacker to rockstar

My unsettled disease, Ganoderma infection

Basically, this is my scope of work right now as a plant pathologist. My aim is to find a solution in order to combat this disease. Ganoderma has been found since 77 years ago in Malaysia but until today there was no effective solution for solving this disease. Researcher from all over the world trying hard to address this problem but at the end they failed to deliver their research findings i the field. Apparently, I am trying to solve this 77 years disease and with my team, I hope I can be successful to penetrate this disease.

Nowdays, plant pathologist has become a rare species. I could not find any plant pathologist at my age now. There are many molecular biologist but they are in different battle field. Therefore, I would like to make a call for those plant scienses students. Please make your way as a plant pathologist. This is a very interesting job to look into. I am enjoying myself with my works right now. You will feel the thrill, believe in me cause I am feeling it right now. Lets continue the heritage!!





Fungal pathogen: Ganoderma boninense

Upper Stem Rot caused by Ganoderma boninense

Collapsed oil palm due to Ganoderma infection

Nice trip To JakArta

In front of TuGu Monas!..Hot but great monumen...Ooo btw..The indonesian always demonstrated around this area..I've met with em when they were demonstrating about water or something..couldnt remember..

Shopping @ Hard Rock Cafe, Jakarta

Tanah Abang..at last..this is the right place to be..isnt it dear?!

In Jakarta but we chose to enter Thailand restaurant..how bizzare..haha

cOMing back sOoN

Solution by Government??

Perhaps, yesterday was another date when Malaysia (particularly middle class) will struggle to cope with the challenging situation as they had before..40% increases of fuel price yet again caused a storm through out the nationwide. I saw Malaysian line up with a long line just to make sure their tanks were full filled for a long ride today. For me, I just stepped over yesterday and just passing through the crowds with barely looks. As a hardcore traveler, of course I’ll get the immediate effect. We’re talking about 40% increases of expenditure. Not to mention other things which is instantly going up too (maybe more than 40%!)..So just now, I have emailed my boss suggesting my opinions which I hope will reach to the top management. Well, they need to know isn’t it? I will voice it up and not taking for granted of anything.
I’ve been doing some research whether reducing the subsidies is the only answer in order to avoid so called ‘subsidized washed out’. This may helps in someway, but I think the government should have considered manipulating the RM exchange (quoted from che det).Yes, that would be great too. By strengthening RM then we will get less effect. Furthermore, in order to get the money back (the subsidized money), perhaps they can get it back by charging more taxes to the ‘cigarette industries’. Well at least you can throw 1 stone for 2 birds. If they are willing to pay the taxes then we can more money to cover back the subsidized or if they don’t want to pay then we can get healthy Malaysian. At least that would be great too.
For me, I have given the government my vote of confident. But to coming with a solution like this, it is far from satisfaction. I need more solution. There are lots of other ways to overcome this situation and by hoping that give some money would be enough then I would say that money is only another waste.

Sarung baju lipat tangan
Garu kocek jumpa kerabu
Tengah sedap simpuh berangan
Calit hitam jadik kelabu

The week

I’m a bit tense lately. Have to think about works, wedding preparation and my plan for PhD. Sometimes they came together which made my bloody hell out of my mind. Nevertheless, I managed to go for an interview with Yayasan Khazanah..It went for 2 days and I must admit it’s a tough one!! First we had to take an IQ test. One of the test, we have to answer like 70 maths questions in 9 minutes. Then, we had to form a group of 10 ppl from 40 candidates attended that interview. We have been given a task to conduct a survey on to open a counseling centre in KL..Then in the afternoon, we had an interview by groups..I’m in the last group which they said among the strongest candidates..Yeahhh…I bet so..haha..I felt like being in The Apprentice coz at the end of the first day, we have to eliminate one of our team member..That day interview lasted till 6.30pm..huuarghh..

The next day, interviewed by Khazanah top management..Hope that I presented myself very well in front of them..So I have managed to get through 3 torturous stages of interview..I really hope I’m lucky enuff to escape to the last stage..I’m praying a lot for that..Btw..there are another 2 scholarships interview coming next week and on the 6th of May..next week with MOSTI for NSF scholar and the second is with MPOB..

On Thursday, had to go to Tekam to get ready for a presentation with MIMOS on Friday. Their CEO visited us in order or whatsoever project we can collaborate with them..I just presented my project only..not suggested any future project with them.I’ve got a lot already Boss..Dont put another mountain in my back plsss…

Dari satu delta ke satu delta
Si mata dan si tikus berkelana
Subur bak lalang merata di sapa
Umpama hidup manusia berjela-jela

Kemaruk kecundang manusia binatang
Bersembunyi di tabir deraian ketawa
Susur lalu hidup jelatang disimpang
Bak kemiang laluan sendawa

Curahan akar ke daun temiang
Gatal getah lebih keladi
Seluruh badan terbiang – biang
Tak sedar diri hidup tak jadi

The introduction..

Assallamualaikom....
At last, I have a blog of my own..I can potray what is inside my head to the net now.Salam perkenalan. I have my own perspective in everything. I am quite loud if I think I need to do so. I'm working as group leader of plant pathologist group in one of the big company in Malaysia. Recently, my research project won The Very Best Award at the Malaysian Technology Expo and I also won bronze at Geneva back in 2005.I thank God for that. I'm engaged and my fiance now is studying for her PhD in Cambridge (in plant metabolism). I am also planing to further my study. Maybe in Imperial College or Bath. Recently , I had an interview to Oxford but unfortunately they didn't have the appropriate supervisor to host me. So they send my cv to Imperial and Bath. What to do...but the think is I really want to go to Oxford..Sooner or later, I will definitely going there..Maybe for my post-doc..Insyaallah....